Chapter Four

Vivienne 

Dominic’s large hand wrapped tightly around mine, a reassuring weight as he guided me out of the suffocating estate. Everything felt surreal. My mind replayed the evening’s events like a broken disc track.

The betrayal. The humiliation. And now…this man.

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, trying to piece him together. In the soft glow of the fairy lights, his features were almost unreal—perfectly symmetrical with a jawline sharp enough to cut glass. 

His hair, a rich shade of red-brown, was tousled just enough to look effortlessly stylish. His eyes were a masterpiece, deep and almost hypnotic, fringed with lashes most women would kill for. The way they glinted under the light made my breath catch.

Then there was the way he carried himself. Tall, broad-shouldered, his perfectly tailored suit clinging to a build that screamed power and control. He was the kind of man you’d see on the cover of a magazine or walking down a runway.

But more than his looks, it was his presence, his confidence, that left me reeling. He walked like the world belonged to him, and maybe it did.

Was this really Alias’s uncle?

They were nothing alike.

I vaguely remembered Alias mentioning him once, years ago. Dominic Laurent, the black sheep of the family, who’d left their cushy fashion empire to build something of his own. I’d never paid much attention then, but now, as he led me to a sleek black car that looked like it cost more than my life savings, I couldn’t help but wonder what I'd gotten myself into?

He opened the passenger door with a fluid motion and gestured for me to get in. “After you,” he said, his voice low and smooth, like a secret meant just for me.

I hesitated for a fraction of a second before sliding into the black leather seat. The interior smelled like cedar and something distinctly him—a mix of cologne and the undeniable aura of money.

The door clicked shut, and a moment later, he was sliding into the driver’s seat. The car purred to life, and we pulled away from the estate, leaving the chaos and humiliation behind.

In the backseat, I stared out the window, the city lights blurring as we sped through the streets. I should have felt relieved to be away from it all, but instead, I felt… unsettled.

“Do you know the best way to get revenge on someone like him?” Dominic’s voice broke through my thoughts.

I turned to him, blinking. “What?”

He leaned back in his seat, his smirk playful yet calculating. 

“Alias. Do you know the best way to make him regret every single thing he did to you?”

I stared at him, my heart pounding. “What are you talking about?”

He shifted slightly, his arm draping casually over the back of his seat as he turned to face me fully. His presence was overwhelming in the confined space, his soft eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.

“Marry me,” he said, his words like a bomb dropping in the silence.

I blinked, sure I’d misheard. “Excuse me?”

“Marry me,” he repeated, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Alias is a spoiled little brat who thrives on control. He likes to think he owns everything, including you. The moment he sees you with me? He’ll realize he’s lost.”

I gaped at him, completely at a loss for words. This had to be a joke. 

“You’re insane.”

He chuckled, a low, rich sound that sent shivers down my spine. 

“I’ve been called worse.”

“I don’t even know you,” I snapped, my voice rising. “And you think I’m just going to… marry you? For revenge?!”

He tilted his head, his smirk never faltering. 

“Think of it as a mutually beneficial arrangement. I get to annoy my nephew, and you get to show him you’re better off without him.”

I shook my head, laughing bitterly. “This is ridiculous.”

“Is it?” he asked, his voice dropping an octave. “Because from where I’m sitting, it sounds like the perfect solution.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but my phone buzzed in my purse, cutting me off. I fumbled for it, my heart sinking when I saw the name flashing on the screen.

Alias.

Dominic’s eyes flicked to the phone, his smirk deepening.

 “Answer it,” he said, leaning back lazily.

“No,” I muttered, a sigh left me as I declined the call.

But it buzzed again. And again.

“Persistent, isn’t he?” Dominic drawled.

Before I could react, he reached over and plucked the phone from my hand.

“Hey—give that back!” I protested, but he held it out of my reach, his thumb swiping across the screen.

“Hello, Alias,” he said smoothly, his voice dripping with mockery.

I froze, my heart hammering in my chest.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Dominic continued, his tone calm but laced with amusement. “Oh, she’s busy right now. With me.”

I couldn’t hear Alias’s response, but whatever it was made Dominic’s smirk widen.

“Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like,” he said, his gaze locking on mine. “And no, you don’t get to call the shots anymore.”

He ended the call and tossed the phone onto the seat beside me.

“You had no right—” I started, but he cut me off, leaning in close.

His face was just inches from mine, his breath warm against my cheek.

“Say yes,” he murmured, his voice low and coaxing. “Or he’ll think he still owns you.”

My heart raced as I stared into his eyes, a storm of emotions swirling inside me. Anger. Confusion. Fear…and something else. Something dangerously close to intrigue.

Dominic Laurent was playing a game, and I didn’t know the rules. But as his gaze held mine, I couldn’t deny the pull of his words, the spark of defiance they ignited in me.

Could I really do this? Could I marry him?

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. Whatever I decided next would change everything.